culture for friends - valentiny architects luxembourg
DESCRIPTION
François Valentiny is one of the greatest architects in the world. He grewe up on an idyllic place in the south of Luxemborug, Remerschen, where, many years later he founded his own studio. François Valentiny developed into a painter, a sculptor, a costume and set designer, and moreover, a 'muscial' and social architect. With his impressive designs he became an ambasador of Luxembourgian architecture. François Valentiny, whio designed the Luxembourg Expo Pavilion 2010 in Shanghai, says:"Architecture is not intellectual. It means a revolt againt the average.:"TRANSCRIPT
Culture for Friends is an international newsletter produced by Euro Business Translations (EBT)
Almere, the Netherlands, and distributed to 2500 organisations and individuals worldwide. Copy for
future issues of the newsletter, preferably with photo material, is welcome. You can send your contri-
bution in any language and we will translate it into English – after all, translation is our business!
Culture for Friends is produced by EBT to highlight the cultural and creative activities of companies
and individuals, and new revolutionary trends in business enterprises. We look forward to receiving
your contributions. Euro Business Translations: Tel. 00-31-36– 540 27 85. Email: [email protected]
Issue 20
10 January 2013
1
De bijzondere vomrentaal van een bijzondere architect: René van Zuuk
François Valentiny, Luxembourg : painter, sculptor, and ’musical’ architect
François Valentiny (59) was born in 1953 in the idyllic
surroundings of Remerschen (South Luxembourg).
Father carpenter, grandfather carpenter. Growing up
between wood makers, he learned to value the impor-
tance and knowledge of true artisans. Blessed with ar-
tistry François developed himself as architect, painter,
and sculptor. A ‘musical’, or rather cultural architect,
who loves operas; a man who was to build and recon-
struct several musical and cultural buildings in his later
years. Was it the scent of the wooden wine barrels of his
grandfather in this youth that, many years later, made
him to design and reconstruct several wine cellars?
François Valentiny lives and works still in the grounds of
the house where he was born and grew up. He studied
architecture between 1975 and 1980 in Nancy and Vien-
na. In 1987 he became partner of Hubert Hermann
(together they founded the office Hermann & Valentiny
in Austria and Luxembourg). A few years ago their part-
nership ended.
Luxembourg Expo Pavillion 2010 - Shanghai
The statue “Gëlle Fra” (Golden Lady) - a national
treasure - from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
has been placed at the top of a three-metre-tall steel
column at the entrance to the Luxembourg Pavilion.
“Does size really matter?”
G.G. Kirchner, partner of Valentiny Archi-
tects, stresses the fact that a small country
like Luxembourg is often overlooked by
other countries. Kirchner:”When in 2008
we were designing the Luxembourg pavili-
on for Shanghai, people suggested that we
adopt the motto, a variant of the saying:
”Small is beautiful too.” This novel ap-
proach allowed the Luxembourg pavilion to
attract quite a lot of attention at the biggest
EXPO of all time in China, where
nothing appears to be small.”
“Architecture is not intellectual. Creating architecture
means to work like a carpenter, a gardener, a cook.
Architecture means a revolt against the average.”
2
Below: Videoclip of Valenty Architects with projects, including
the Pavilion on the Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, which won
the first prize. Music in this video: Fantasia On a Theme by
Thomas Tallis - The New Queen’s Hall Orchestra. Photo be-
low: ‘The Tower of Dreams and Longings’ in Trier (2003-2004).
A landmark by Valentiny Architects, more sculpture than archi-
tecture, more an art work than a building. An audacious, con-
temporary version of the towers built in San Gimignano.
“Drawings are the Mirrors of my Dreams.”
Photo below: The office of François Valentiny is
located in the inspiring surroudings of Remer-
schen, where 35 architects and engineers work
on international projects. Apart from his work as
an architect, François Valentiny teaches at the
Beijing De Tao Masters Academy.
The private studio of Valentiny in Remerschen: a study in
colour, form, light, glass and the beauty of the landscape.
Luxembourg Pavilion EXPO 2010, SHANGHAI
With the Luxembourg Pavilion for EXPO 2010
in Shanghai, Valentiny Architects has impressi-
vely demonstrated what a contemporary allian-
ce of architecture and art looks like. Valentiny
Architects won the competition for the Expo in
2010, where 40 international architects took
part. François Valentiny:”We seem to have hit a
nerve with this design. One must know that
Luxembourg does not have an independent,
own tradition. We have never had famous poets
or musicians. Maybe the pavilion is the begin-
ning of a Luxembourgian identity.”
3
Les Thermes in Strassen-Bertrange (Luxembourg):
the most innovative waterpark in Europe of 2010
At first sight, the futuristic swimming and leisure centre in Strassen-
Bertrange, looks like a flying saucer that has just landed in the open coun-
tryside. Its striking design is produced jointly by Atelier d’Architecture et
Design Jim Clemes, Witry & Witry and Valentiny Architects.
The municipalities of Stras-
sen and Bertrange had am-
bitious plans in 2002 when
they decided to set up the
swimming pool and leisure
centre “Les Thermes”. The
new building was intended
to provide a wide range of
swimming, sport and leisu-
re facilities under one roof.
They organised a design
competition for architects
for this project in 2004,
which was won by Valenti-
ny Architects with their stri-
king proposal, which also
won the 2012 Bauhäre
Preis of the OAI, the Order
of Architects and Consul-
ting Engineers of the Grand
Duchy of Luxembourg”).
Project Manager Axel Christmann of
Valentiny: the inspirator of the project
A large comunal leisure amenity set in the
landscape, easily reachable in terms of trans-
portation. The building is elliptical in plan, the
volume is like a flying saucer. Two of the zo-
nes inside the waterpark offer sports pools
and a whirlpool. The third area contains va-
rious sauna facilities and provides access to
a visually screened-off outdoor area.
A special choice of material had to be made
for the roof supports in view of the corrosive
chlorine– containing air rising from the pool
and the enormous span of the roof. Wood
was the only material that could meet the
high requirements. There are three swimming
areas, separated by broad relaxation zones,
with rich planting.
The urban planning setting of the site for this swim-
ming centre demanded a special architectural solution.
The inspiration for the design came from a cut-open
amethyst with its opaque outer surface and the extra-
ordinary vitality of its interior. The closed façade, which
screens the interior off from the industrial zone on one
side, gives little idea of what goes on inside the buil-
ding and invites a second glance. The ellipsoidal struc-
ture is open to the housing estate on the other side.
4
Música em Trancoso: Four idealists, one dream: a permanent cultural centre in Brazil
François Valentiny: an architect from
Luxembourg with a passion for Brazil
Four idealists got together in 2010 and
had one dream in common: to establish a
cultural centre and music festival in the
region of Bahia, in Trancoso, Brazil. Was
it intuition that brought them together?
Four idealists, one goal. Sabine Lovatelli,
the Musical Director of the festival and
the founder of the “Mozarteum Brasileiro”,
Carlos Eduardo Bittencourt, a talented
man, who fell in love with Trancoso 30
years, François Valentiny, a passionate
lover of music and one of the greatest ar-
chitects in the world and Reinold Geiger,
an international business man who has
always looked for new challenges. Fran-
cois Valentiny states:”Long time before I
projected and designed the Opera-festival
house in Salzburg, I met Sabine Lovatelli
in Austria. We visited her 5 years ago in
her house in Trancoso. I was very excited
about Brazil and its wonderful people.
Since this trip I have a passion for Brazil.
During this period we made the acquain-
tance of Dominique and Reinold Geiger
and Calé Bittencourt. After a special din-
ner, the festival ‘Música em Trancoso’
was born.”
François Valentiny is co-founder and co-sponsor of the
Brazilian Music Festival ’Música em Trancoso’, in the
region of Bahia. The festival, that started in 2012, is much
more than simply a superb classical music festival in an
idyllic spot on the Brazilian coast. It is a cultural event with
unique characteristics. ’Música em Trancoso’ offers free
concerts dedicated entirely to the appreciation of classical
music and making a contribution to the training of young
musicians. The eight-dayfestival for free classical and po-
pular music concerts, is a wonderful experience for the
people of Trancoso and foreign visitors. Over 200 musi-
cians, ranging from Brazilian youth orchestras to major
names in classical and contemporary Brazilian and inter-
national music came to Trancoso. The festival took
place in an auditorium for an amfitheatre, which is still
under construction. Eventually it will have a total capac-
ity of 2,200 seats in two autitoriums. François Valentiny:
“The building is half buried in the earth and contains two
concert halls. A covered and an open space, each one
with a stage for 120 musicians, an orchestra pit,
accommodation for the artists, technical rooms
and seating for 1,100 spectators. The design is
based on acoustic and visual parameters and
creates a new image for this area.”
The great success of the first edition in 2012 ma-
de it quite clear: Música em Trancoso was here
to stay. Also thanks to Roberta Lovatelli, who was
the operational coordinator of the festival in 2012.
Roberta Lovatelli embraces the happiness that
the festival brought into the hearts of all music
lovers. “It was a very rewarding experience to see
the smiles on the people’s faces when everything
turned out beautifully.” In 2013 the 2nd Festival
will be organised from 23 February until 2 March.
Contact details: Música em Trancoso
Rua do Telégrafo, 385
45818 - 000 - TRANCOSO– BRAZIL
Tel. 0055-73-36– 68 1487/2177
www.musicaemtrancoso.org.br
5
The House for Mozart is one of the venues for the Salzburg Festival. It has performed this function since 1925, but was only given its present name in 2006. It has mainly been used to put on operas and con-certs. Originally built as the royal stables, it became the first festival hall in 1925, and has been called the Small Festival Hall since 1960. It has been converted many times over the years. The sixth, and for the mo-ment the last, conversion took place in 2006 to mark the Mozart Year, the 250th anniversary of the com-poser’s birth, in 2006. The architects for the creation of the House of Mozart were Wilhelm Holzbauer and
François Valentiny, while the German artist Michael Hammers was entrusted with the task of designing and renovating the ’Golden Wall’ in the foyer. Mozart’s much loved opera ’The Marriage of Figaro’ was perfor-med during the festive opening of the building.
Ultramodern design by Valentiny Architects for new Beethoven Festival Hall in Bonn
Valentiny Architects has made an ultramodern design
for the proposed new Beethoven festival hall. Bonn
already has a Beethoven Hall, the third of that name,
built shortly after the end of World War II on the
banks of the Rhine. It is a listed monument and much
loved by many people. The design by Valentiny has
an ultramodern look and offers better acoustics and
lighting. With a scenic location on the Rhine Prome-
nade, it offers a large and a small auditorium. Futuris-
tic lighting and state-of-the-art acoustic towers allow
almost endless manipulation of the appearance of the
auditoria and the sound of the music.
House for Mozart - Salzburg “Das kleine Festspielhaus”
Holzbauer and Valentiny managed to square the circle by making the auditorium ten metres shorter while still leaving room for more seats, and vastly improving the acoustics. The upper area is articulated by three bronze doors sculp- ted by Josef Zenzmaier, and by five narrow, vertical rectangular areas of fixed glazing. François Valentiny is a ’musical’ architect who designed a number of concert halls and a highly talented costume and set designer. He explains:”Designing costumes and drawing sets for operas is a logical continuation of my work. These types of reflections supplement my architectural work. I created costumes for and theatre scenes for André Chenier, Samson and Dalila and Oedipus Rex.”
The municipal council of Bonn decided in Novem-
ber 2011 that the city should build a spectacular
new festival hall in 2020 to celebrate Beethoven’s
250th birthday. Bonn feels a special link with the
composer, since he was born in the city. Leading
architects from around the world entered the
competition to design the new festival hall. Valen-
tiny Architecs is one of the two candidates who
are still in the running with its ultramodern design
entitled “Die Wellen” (The Waves”).
6
Interior view of the KPMG building in Luxembourg
Basic Housing Project for the Shahe University Town in Beijging, China
Since 2011 François Valentiny has been a Master of Community Planning and Green Architectural
Design with The Beijing De Tao Masters Academy (DTMA) , a high-level, multi-disciplined, applica-
tion-oriented higher education institution in Shanghai, China. In that context he designed a Basic
Housing Project for the Shahe Univeristy Town in Beijing (photo below). De Tao Masters Academy
launched the Beijing Shahe University Town project in 2000, a project which echoes Beijing’s commit-
ment to “Revitalizing the Country with
Science and Technology.” The University
Town, covering 8 km² kilometres and com-
posed of educational, commercial and re-
sidential facilities, stands out in Beijing’s
new landscape. Its tenants include five
top universities of the country in different
fields, representing 80,000 students and
20,000 faculty members in total. DTMA
aims to collect the industrial wisdom of
the world, to congregate the World’s
leading masters, to nurture professional
elites for industries and to improve the
development of prosperous business.
adato architecture, the first Luxembourg magazi-ne for architects, celebrated its 10th anniversary François Valentiny founded this bilingual architec-tural journal together with GG Kirchner in 2002, and is still co-editor. Published in French and German, adato architecture appears quarterly in 4 different countries, Belgium, Germany, France and Luxem-bourg, and celebrated its tenth birthday in 2012. François Valentiny’s passion for architecture and for the medium of print was an important factor in the creation of the magazine. Unlike neighbouring coun-tries, Luxembourg had not had a platform for archi-tecture, so adato architecture met a real need. In its pages, renowned specialists from Luxembourg and abroad write interesting articles and leading archi-tects, engineers and businessmen give their point of view. Editorial Board: Prof. Ingeborg Flagge; Marie-Hélène Lukas, François Valentiny, Torsten Altmeyer, Oliver Arenz and G.G. Kirchner. For further information: E-mail: [email protected] Phone 00-352– 23 60 701
KPMG office building, Luxembourg
‘Sustainable Firm of the Year 2012’ Created by Valentiny Architects and constructed by
Felix Giorgetti sarl, the building’s striking design
and innovative external structure will take pride in
the Kirchberg business district. It is located at the
junction of Avenue John F. Kennedy and Boulevard
Konrad Adenauer. The architecture connects the
modernity of Luxembourg today with its industrial
history. The eye-catching outer structure, in an
arresting oxide red, will be constructed entirely of
weathering steel; a symbol of Luxembourg’s rich
ironworks past. Framed within the outer structure it
is the leading edge design of the building itself, with
a floor to ceiling glazed façade, a large atrium,
open reception areas and varied and innovative
meeting point areas. The structural design was
conceived with environmental and ecological fac-
tors in mind. Recently named Sustainable Firm of
the Year 2012 by International Accounting Bulletin,
KPMG hopes to ensure the building meets its high
expectations with regard to sustainability.
7
This international Newsletter is published by
Euro Business Translations - an establis-
hed translation agency in Almere, the Nether-
lands, which offers translation, interpreting
and copywriting services.
An overview of our activities may be found on
our website, www.eurobt.nl. We deliver high-
quality translations in subjects as architectu-
re, office furnishing, art, theatre and the food
and beverage industry. Thanks to our quality
and accuracy we are the translation partner
you can rely on!
Valentiny Architects
19, rue des Près
L-5441 REMERSCHEN
LUXEMBOURG
E-mail: [email protected]
www.valentinyarchitects.com
University Library “La maison du livre” under construction at the
Science, Research and Innovation City in Esch-sur-Alzette Artist’s impression of the university library under construction in Esch-
sur-Alzette. Daniela Flor explains:”The new library is made of Cor-Ten
steel, which protects the building against rusting. François Valentigny
calls it a ‘stone-age hut’, placed in the middle of the big city, where it
blends in very well with its rural surroundings. It is located in Esch-Bel-
val, an old industrial area that will be transformed into a university
campus, with shops, restaurants, houses and a concert hall. The for-
mer steel works will become the university library. The old blast furna-
ces will be retained as modernist works of art. The steel skeleton of
the building will also be preserved, but will be covered by an innovati-
ve new skin made of composite and glass, using techniques taken
from boat-building and aerospace construction to give a completely
new interpretation of the old steel works.”
The future library “La maison du Livre” in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Architect and consulting engi-
neer Daniela Flor (41) is Project
Manager for the new university
library in Esch-sur-Alzette, due
to be completed in 2 years. She
studied architecture in Kaisers-
lautern, Germany, and has been
working for Valentiny Architects
for 14 years. Daniela is inspired
by working in a multinational
team, and is full of praise for
François Valentiny. “He is a
support and inspiration for all of
us. He encourages us to put
something new into every
design.”
Below: design for a Concert Hall in Wroclaw, Poland, 2005.